| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 9.34 | 198109090_HOU_ATL |
| Tom Seaver | CIN | 5.64 | 198109070_SDN_CIN |
| Scott Sanderson | WAS | 4.4 | 198109080_WAS_PHI |
| Tommy John | NYA | 3.93 | 198109091_MIL_NYA |
| Burt Hooton | LAN | 3.84 | 198109080_SFN_LAN |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -4.62 | 198109090_SDN_CIN |
| Dick Ruthven | PHI | -2.7 | 198109090_WAS_PHI |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -2 | 198109090_TOR_MIN |
| Randy Lerch | MIL | -1.85 | 198109070_MIL_NYA |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -1.74 | 198109070_CLE_BAL |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-09.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.29 | Nolan Ryan | 116.7 | HOU |
| +003+ | 5.15 | Bob Knepper | 127.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 4.68 | Fernando Valenzuela | 156 | LAN |
| +006+ | 4.65 | Steve McCatty | 148 | OAK |
| +007+ | 4.11 | Steve Carlton | 149 | PHI |
| +009+ | 3.96 | Vida Blue | 122 | SFN |
| +014+ | 3.66 | Burt Hooton | 115.7 | LAN |
| +017+ | 3.47 | Sammy Stewart | 81.7 | BAL |
| +019+ | 3.4 | Dave Righetti | 72.7 | NYA |
| +021+ | 3.26 | Britt Burns | 121 | CHA |
| +023+ | 3.22 | Jerry Reuss | 118 | LAN |
| +024+ | 3.13 | Tom Seaver | 131.7 | CIN |
| +025+ | 3.11 | Ken Forsch | 147.3 | ANA |
| +034+ | 2.7 | Bert Blyleven | 153 | CLE |
| +035+ | 2.68 | Jack Morris | 156 | DET |
| +036+ | 2.67 | Tommy John | 111.3 | NYA |
| +039+ | 2.58 | Dennis Lamp | 88 | CHA |
| +052+ | 2.2 | Milt Wilcox | 128 | DET |
| +053+ | 2.2 | Doyle Alexander | 121 | SFN |
| +056+ | 2.11 | Larry Gura | 138.3 | KCA |
| +058+ | 2.08 | Scott Sanderson | 110 | WAS |
| +059+ | 2.05 | John Denny | 110 | CLE |
| +063+ | 2.01 | Bill Gullickson | 126.7 | WAS |
| +067+ | 2 | Dan Petry | 105.7 | DET |
| +066+ | 2 | Dave LaRoche | 38.7 | NYA |
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